Trunk-fastener.



I P. MAYPIELD.

TRUNK PASTENER.

APPLIGATION FILED DEC. 3, 1909.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL MAYIEIELD, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JEFF J. FOOTE, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

TRUNK-FASTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. December 8, 1909.

Patented Mar. 14, 1911. Serial No. 531,983.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL MAYFIELD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Atlanta, in the county of Fulton and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trunk-Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in trunk fasteners and dowel bolts which are usually placed, one or more on each side of the trunk lock; and the principal object of the invention is to provide for protecting the front and upper edge of the body by means of protecting flanges on the lower plate of the fastening device.

The matter constituting my invention will be defined in the claim.

I will now describe the details of construction and my improvements by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a front View of a trunk fastener applied to the front of a trunk and lid. Fig. 2 represents a vertical transverse section on line 2-2, Fig. 1, showing my protecting flanges. Figs. 3 andet represent, respectlvely, a front view and a vertical section of a dowel bolt, having my protecting flanges.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, the upper plate A, sometimes called a keeper plate, secured to the trunk lid, is of the usual construction and is provided with two tenons or dowels a, a, and with a central bolt C, having an engaging lug c projecting outward from the lower end thereof.

The lower plate D, containing the usual spring latch or hasp, is secured to the trunk body. The lower plate D will be fastened to the body of the trunk immediately under, and so as to register with the upper plate A on the lid, but the upper edge of the sockets on plate D is not flush with the upper edge of the body. In my improved device the plate D is provided with a protecting flange d projecting upward, back of the upper edges of the sockets c and having an inwardly turned flange cl which projects over the top edge of the body, as shown in Fig. 2. These flanges (Z, 0? protect the front and upper edge of the body from wear and injury by the bolt 0 and dowels a, which are apt to bite or dig into the front and upper edge of the body at the time of closing the lid. In

order to secure the benefits and advantages of these protecting flanges d, d, the lower plate D is set lower down on the body than usual, so that the vertical flange (Z will better protect the front of the body. The plate D is provided with the usual sockets c, e, for the dowels a, a. A swinging latch or hasp G is hinged near the lower part of plate D in the usual manner and is provided at the top with an opening 9 for engaging with the lug 0 of the bolt C. A spring h is arranged in the interior of a projecting portion of plate D for bearing on the hasp and keeping it closed against plate D in the usual manner.

My improvements are also applied to a dowel bolt, Figs. 3 and 4, which are usually applied to the front of the trunk body and lid for strengthening and protecting the same against wear and injury to which trunks are subjected in travel. The upper plate A is provided with the usual large dowel bolt C and the lower plate D which is secured to the body, is provided with a receiving socket c for said bolt. The plate D is provided with my protecting flange (5 projecting upward from the upper edge of the socket and with the inwardly turned flange d which rests upon the upper edge of the body.

In either the trunk fastener, Fig. 1, or the dowel bolt, Fig. 3, the lower plate D with the protecting flanges d, d is pressed or stamped up in one piece of metal. The trunk fastener and dowel bolt will be made in different sizes and shapes adapted for trunks, sample cases, and suit cases.

The trunk fastener and dowel bolts being applied to the body and lid, as shown in the drawing, when the lid is lowered the down wardly projecting bolts will bear against the protecting flanges cl, d and be guided into the sockets on the lower plate without any danger of wear or injury to the front and upper edge of the body. This is quite important in order to protect the body from injury, especially when it is covered with leather or other trunk covering material.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a trunk fastener, the lower or base plate adapted to be applied to the trunk body and having a socket and a protecting. an upper plate having a bolt, substantially flange consisting of a portion d projecting as described. 10

upward back of, and above the upper edge In testimony whereof I afiix my signature of the socket and a portion d approxiin presence of two witnesses.

mately at right angles thereto, stamped up PAUL MAYFIELD. with, and forming an integral portion of, Witnesses:

the plate for protecting the front and upper WILL R. MYERS,

edge of the trunk body in combination with F. M. MORGAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C. 

